The new honda is nothing special!
 

There are lots of choices. All we need is a company to import these models. And there are lots more out there... BMW, OPEL, SEAT, VOLVO, SAAB, LANCIA, FIAT, VW, NISSAN, KIA, HYUNDAI, PEUGEOT, RENAULT, CITROEN, JAGUAR, landrover, range rover and more, all produce very respectable diesels. We are left out, not invited to the party. Americans have to stop accepting their cheap and inferior products, including the socalled japanese "imports". Many are cheaply made models only intended for the US martket. If we just stopped buying cars like they were shoes and paid for better quality, we would be better off. Wake up America!

...end of rant:)

http://www2.mercedes-benz.co.uk/content/unitedkingdom/mpc/mpc_unitedkingdom_website/en/home_mpc/passenger_cars/home/products/new_cars/eclass_estate/models1/engines/diesel.html

http://www.alfaromeo.co.uk/cgi-bin/pbrand.dll/ALFAROMEO_UK/models/models.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0820917715.1185968598@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccgaddlimhmfkfcefecejgdfiidgnj.0& categoryOID=-1073800390

http://www.ford.co.uk/ie/foc_c307/-/foc_config_iapp/-/-/-/-

http://www.skoda.co.uk/skoda3g/content/showroom/newoctavia/specifications_engines.aspx

http://www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/vsroom/main1024.jsp

http://www.audi.co.uk/audi/uk/en2/new_cars/a6/saloon/specifications.techdata.a6.a6limo.4f201l_0.html

we know... but when I think honda I think reliable and then.... stupid loud exhaust

The problem is not that Americans buy cheap japanese imports, which aren't that cheap by the way. The problem is that most Americans insist on driving gas-guzzling behemoths and are not interested in fuel-efficient diesels. But it's starting to change, albeit very slowly.

We drove a very competent Renault Clio 3 dci about 3000km through France this Spring.

http://www.renault.co.uk/Productpage_Home.aspx?mm=newclio

I wasn't paying real close attention, but we got very nearly 50 MPG on that thing. I wouldn't call it a small car- maybe Toyota Corolla or Honda Civic in size. It is a VERY COMMON car over there as well as VW Polo, Citroen C1, C3 etc all in diesel. I wish...

Rick

It is special if they bring it over here. If not, then no, it is nothing special. I've been wanting a newer diesel car for a while.. Really wanted a 300 CRD.

Very true, there are a lot of choices. All we need is enough demand for a company to import these models. And for them to bring them up to US safety standards, emissions standards, be prepared for the liability issues (that is, have enough money set aside for such issues should they arise), necessary dealer & repair facility network, warranty issues, etc., etc.

I'd love to see more manufacturers, especially diesels. Heck, I'd love to see a quality domestically produced diesel car. The demand just isn't enough for manufacturers to overcome those little obstacles to bring a car to the US market. The dollar potential (vs. the pitfalls) must not be there, otherwise it would already be happening. If it were worth their while they'd be happy to separate us from our money.

I wish we could get more European cars in the U.S, even from car makers. Instead of FORD TAURUS X crap I'll take a 6 speed diesel focus, please. :)
http://www.thetorquereport.com/2008_...us_x-thumb.jpg

I can believe there isn't a big enough market and margin for the big companies to do this, but I find it hard to believe it is not worthwhile to someone to do a small scale import and US conversion business. That there doesn't seem to be such suggest that something, probably the regulations, make it impossible to make any money at all with small volumes.

Perhaps we need to start a letter writing campaign to our congress critters to loosen up on the regulations for such imports if they provide a benefit such as lower emissions or better fuel economy? They could never compete with minstream, mass market models pricewise, but that's not the idea anyway.. more to allow someone to run a business in the small volume area where they can offer a niche product that helps the country in some way without causing too much damage.

The real problem is what happens every time government bureaucracies make rules - they make terribly stupid ones. If the car companies didn't have to redesign the whole darn thing just to get it here, we'd have it already.

The Toyota dealer I visited this morning told me that the reason that Volkswagon does not have any TDI's for sale this year in Canada is that they had problems with the engines due to "the diesel fuel we use here in North America"

According to him, if the fuel we used here was a good of quality as the European fuel, they would consider importing the Hilux trucks that they use everywhere else in the world.

That's indeed part of the problem. Requiring diesel engines running on high-sulphur fuel to meet gasoline-emission profiles is pretty unreasonable and that's been the case for years. That's like requiring gassers running on leaded gasoline to meet diesel-emission profiles (just plain impossible). The good news is that now with ULSD we will be seeing many more diesel offerings. Still, I would mostly blame the American public for not demanding better fuel efficiency. Truck and SUV sales are a bit down but still pretty hot. Gas is still too cheap.

The problem is that most americans remember the old smoking Mercedes of the 70"s and the failed attempts of GM. Alot of younger and older americans love their pickups with large diiesels. We need Diesels in all these SUV's that are being produced, and not monster 7 L ones, but fuel efficent 3 to 4 L, with respectible performance and 25 mpg.

Right now there is almost no market for diesel cars in america because they dont know how good a new diesel can be. Im sure if you put most people in a new E350 CDI and had them drive it, and then told them it gets 34mpg they would not believe it. Now a Mercedes is out of reach for a majority of the population but other companies could and have marketed their cars in europe properly.

As a new diesel convert I am now looking to trade in my newer car for a slightly used MB diesel, and when a diesel SUV comes to market that can tow, I will trade in the yukon.

Just think of the fuel savings if every SUV in the USA got 25 mpg instead of 13?

Honda is not an import. The diesel engines would likely be imported at least until sales justify domestic production.

Some of them are. My Prelude was made in Japan. The S2000 is made in Japan last time I checked.

I still believe the government (NHTSA, DOE) is mostly responsible for keeping diesels out, and efficient Euro vehicles in general. Americans are not exposed enough to know what's out there that they aren't getting. If they were, I believe the demand for diesels would equal Europe's.

Compared to Renault and Pukegot, I will take the Honda diesel anyday, anytime, the reliability of the two French brands are a huge question mark, even in India, the Pukegot engines don't really last as compared to Honda or MB.